Suspended refuse spreader



Sept. 17, 1957 Filed May 21, 1954 B. L. MUNDELL 2,806,435

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L. Mud/DELL A Trae/ve Vs United States Patent 2,806,435 1 SUSPENDED REFUSE SPREADER Bernard L. Mundell, Masontown, Pa.

Application May 21, 1954, Serial No. 431,429

2 Claims. (01. 105-242 The present invention relates generally to mining equipment and specifically to a refuse spreader for the mine dump.

Most mines and colleries have extensive refuse dumps which are fed by cable cars and tramways suspended between the mine tipple and the tail tower. Frequently in excess of two thousand feet long, the installation of the refuse disposal equipment is expensive with the con struction of tall terminal towers and anchors.

The aerial tramway which unloads the slate eventually builds up a long pyramid of refuse and after a time no more slate or mine spoils may be added to the refuse dump.

The present invention comprises an inexpensively constructed spreader for attachment to the dump car and one which does away with the necessity of moving the terminal or the tail tower when the single refuse pile becomes too large.

The invention permits three piles to be made before it becomes necessary to move the dump equipment.

The principal object of the present invention is therefore to provide an inexpensively constructed spreader to be attached to the refuse dump car.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spreader which may be attached to any type of dump car without expensive alterations of thestructure of the car.

Another object of the invention is to provide a spreader which attaches at one end to the haul line and'does not require any pulleys or wheels for support on the track line.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in connection with the annexed drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical mine dump car as used for the disposal of slate and other mine refuse, showing the present invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a vertical view showing schematically how the invention piles the refuse in two piles.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 and,

Figure 4 is an end view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring in more detail to the drawing in which like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views the invention consists of a spreading and distributing device for use with mine dump cars which haul mine refuse to a refuse dump area.

A mine dump car indicated by the numeral is rollably and dependingly supported by cable wheels 11 on a pair of cableways forming a track line 12. Generally, the track line slopes to the tail tower and the car descends by gravity and is hauled back by the haul line 13. A gate 14 is on the lower end of the car 10 and covers the discharge opening which extends over the rear end of the car 10. The gate 14 is opened by a trip line 15, the other end of which is not shown. On the lower end of the 2,806,435 Patented Sept. 17, 1957 car 10 an angle iron 16 is placed to which is bolted the upper frame member 17 which is also preferably an angle iron.

' A'pair'of upright side frame members 18, constructed of channel iron are secured by their upper ends to each end of the upper frame member 17 and have their lower ends connected to the lower frame member 19, making an upstanding "and substantially rectangular frame. A pair of sheet steelplates 21 and 22 are formed into a horizontally disposed inverted V-shaped imperforate trough positioned longitudinally of and below the car 10 with one end 24 adjacent and forwardly of the car discharge opening and the gate 14 and having their meeting edges or apex 25 welded together. Adjacent their other end on their underside and confronting faces a brace 26 of angle steel is welded at each end to the plates 21 and 22 at a spaced distance from the other end of the trough. The plates 21 and 22 adjacent one end of the trough are provided with cut-outs 27 extending inwardly from the lower ends embracingly engaging and secured to the portions of the side frame members 18 adjacent the lower member 19 with the lower ends of the plates 21 and 22 secured to the lower member 19 and the apex 25 secured to the upper member 17.

A tension member supports the other end of the trough from the haul line 13 in spaced relation with respect to the car 10. Specifically, the tension member embodies an upstanding element 28 which has the lower end welded to the apex 25 adjacent the other end of the trough, the upper end of the element carrying a cable clamp 29 which is secured to the haul line 13.

As is readily seen, the plates 21 and 22 are each of trapezoidal shape, and have the front brace 26 and the bottom frame member 19 positioned at equal distances from their respective ends, and beneath the points of attachment to the haul line 13 and to the angle iron 16 which is welded or otherwise secured to the bottom edge of the car 10.

It will be readily seen that this invention may be easily detached from the car, by unbolting the upper frame member 17 from the angle iron 16 and by unfastening the cable clamp 29 from the haul line. In use, the invention may be attached to the car at any time it is wished to divide the flow of mine refuse flowing from the discharge opening into a pair of streams each of which is deposited in the form of a pile alongside an adjacent cableway and on either side of the pile that is deposited by the car without this improvement.

While a single type of refuse dump car has been here shown, other cars of other designs may be used as Well, and the invention may be attached to any type which dumps the slate or rock out of a gate at either end.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been here illustrated and described, many other embodiments are contemplated and many changes and modifications may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as more particularly set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1

1. In a combination of a pair of spaced parallel overhead cable ways, a refuse dump car rollably and dependingly supported on said cable ways, said car having a discharge opening in one end, a haul line having one end connected to said one end of said car, and a spreading and distributing device comprising a pair of plates formed into a horizontally disposed inverted V-shaped imperforate trough and positioned longitudinally of and below said car, the improvement comprising a vertically disposed rectangular frame having the upper member dependingly connected to said one end of said car below the discharge opening, said plates adjacent one end of the trough being provided with cut-outsrextendingninwardly from the lower end embracingly engaging and secured to the" portionsof 'theside framernernbers' of '2.'The combination accordingto claim 1 which in cludes in addition a cross-ibrace' extending "between said plates inwardly of'the lower 'ends' adjacent'the other end of said trough and fixedly attached to said plates.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Van Depoele Aug. 11, 1885 Johnston Dec. 11, 1888 Bogle Apr. 30, 1889 Sackett Apr. 19, 1904 Thompson Jan. 16, 1917 Kilcarr Oct. 12, 1937 Gandrud .V May 11, 1954 Refe|:ences.,Cited in the-file ofithis: patent 

